New Haven African-American cops sue for promotions

In 2009, 20 New Haven firefighters, known as the “New Haven 20,” won a reverse discrimination case that went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In November 2011, 10 African-American New Haven police officers filed a suit against the city, claiming they were denied promotions because of their race. Their attorney is calling them the “New Haven 10.”

Williams said his clients took exams in 2009 for eligibility to be promoted to the rank of sergeant and passed. The lawsuit claims that members of the board said they were troubled by the fact that a majority of the people on the list were African-American, but none were Latino.

“They were deliberately denying these men promotions because of their race,” attorney John R. Williams said “It was discussed openly, on the record, at the civil service commission. Pretty amazing that we could have public servants who are that ignorant of the law, but that’s what happened.”

One year after the officers took the exam, the list of those eligible for promotions was allowed to expire.